Global Highlights:

Based on preliminary data, globally averaged combined land and
sea surface temperature was 5th warmest for May and 6th warmest on
record for boreal spring (March - May 2006).

March - May 2006 temperatures were above average in much of
southern Asia, western Africa, and the majority of North America.
Below average conditions occurred in northern Europe, southern
Africa, a majority of Russia, and Alaska.

Precipitation during March - May 2006 was above average in the
Hawaiian Islands, the Amazon Basin, northern Australia,
southeastern Asia and much of the Philippines, with
drier-than-average conditions in eastern Australia, the
southeastern U.S., Central America, and eastern South America.

Neutral ENSO conditions were present in the equatorial
Pacific.

The Southern Hemisphere average land surface temperature was
the 25th coolest May on record.

Contents of this Section:

The data presented in this report
are preliminary. Ranks and anomalies may change as more complete
data are received and processed. The most current data may be
accessed via the Global Surface
Temperature Anomalies page.

Temperature anomalies for March - May 2006 and May 2006 are shown
on the four maps below. The dot maps on the left provide a spatial
representation of anomalies calculated from the Global Historical
Climatology Network (GHCN) data set of land surface stations using
a 1961-1990 base period. The maps on the right are a product of a
merged land surface and sea surface temperature anomaly analysis
which is based on data from the GHCN of land temperatures and the
Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (COADS) of Sea-Surface
Temperature (SST) data. Temperature anomalies with respect to
1961-1990 for land and ocean are analyzed separately and then
merged to form the global analysis. Additional information on this
product is available.

The mean position of upper level ridges of high pressure and
troughs of low pressure (depicted by positive and negative
500-millibar height anomalies on the March - May 2006
map and the May 2006 map) are
generally reflected by areas of positive and negative temperature
anomalies at the surface, respectively.

Temperatures were cooler than average across large parts of the
Southern Hemisphere land areas during May 2006. Cooler than average
conditions are also reflected in the Mar-May (austral fall) season.
Slightly cooler than average temperatures were also present in
Russia and Eastern Europe.

Conversely, during Mar-May in the Northern Hemisphere (boreal
spring), temperatures were more than 3°C (5°F) above
average throughout large parts of Canada, the southern U.S. and
northern Mexico, western Africa, and parts of southern Asia. The
warmer than average temperatures contributed to persistent or
worsening drought conditions in some of these areas. For additional
information on drought and other extreme climate conditions refer
to the Global
Hazards page.

Ocean surface temperatures were warmer than average throughout much
of the world during May and Mar-May. Although cooler than average
conditions were present in the Niño 1+2
region in the March-May season, warmer than average
temperatures throughout the central and eastern equatorial Pacific
by May marked the completion of the transition from La Niña
to ENSO-neutral conditions. Please see the latest ENSO
discussion for additional information.

As shown in the maps
below, large positive temperature anomalies occurred throughout
much of the North American continent during the year-to-date
five-month period. Mean temperatures in excess of 4°C (7°F)
were commonplace, and new monthly mean temperature records were
established in the United States for January and
April.
Above average temperatures were also present throughout much of
South America, Africa, southern Asia and Greenland. Cooler than
average temperatures occurred in eastern Europe, Russia, and
western Australia.

While warmer than average temperatures covered most ocean surfaces
during January-May 2006, the presence of cooler than average
temperatures in the Niño 3.4
region is evidence of the weak La Niña episode which
ended by March
Please see the latest ENSO
discussion for additional information on the state of
conditions in the equatorial Pacific.

Images of sea surface temperature conditions are available for all
weeks during 2006 at the weekly SST page.

The maps below represent anomaly values based on the GHCN data set
of land surface stations using a base period of 1961-1990. During
March-May 2006, above average precipitation fell over areas that
include India, Brazil, northern Australia, the Philippines, and
Hawaii. Below average precipitation was observed in southern
Brazil, Argentina, Pakistan, eastern Australia, and the
southeastern U.S. Additional details on drought and heavy
precipitation can also be found on the May Hazards page.

During May 2006, above average precipitation fell over areas that
include southeast Asia, portions of southern India, Japan, South
Africa, Hawaii, and the United Kingdom. Below average precipitation
was observed across the majority of Australia, central South
America, parts of southern Europe, and much of the U.S.

Sea Surface Temperatures were near average across the central
tropical Pacific. La Niña conditions dissipated, indicating
a more neutral state of ENSO (shown in the adjacent animation of
weekly sea surface temperature anomalies). A comprehensive summary
of May 2006 ENSO conditions can be found on the ENSO monitoring
page. For the latest advisory on ENSO conditions go to NOAA's Climate Prediction
Center (CPC) and the CPC ENSO Diagnostic
Discussion

Images of sea surface temperature conditions are available for
all weeks during 2006 at the weekly SST page